I went for many years without any termite protection on my now 34-yr

Louise
by Louise
-old house but this time last yr decided to have an inspection. I had no termites, but the company did the "protection" service for something like $600. This was all new stuff to me and I thought that was a lot, but went along with it. Now I have a renewal inspection coming up and a $150 fee for the next year. I'm tempted not to renew since I've been so lucky. OR, tell me this. Is $150 a normal, fair price for whatever this fee covers? I guess it covers treatment should termites appear? And what about the $600 last yr? (My house is small.) Was that fair? Is there a reasonable way to save this money or pay less? Considering I never had termites, it seems like tossing $150 out the window.
  10 answers
  • Michlosangeles Michlosangeles on Dec 11, 2013
    Hmmm...I'm not 100% sure, Louise, but with no termites to treat, $600 sounds high, especially for your area. I'd look at it like an insurance policy: if a company charges a fee to "insure" you against termites for a year, then $150 seems fair. I live in Los Angeles (where everything is pricey!) and Terminix only charges $39 a month for that. If I were you I'd skip the renewal and call some OTHER companies to see if they will give you the insurance-type setup for around the same $150 price. I don't like the sound of how the company you used operates.
  • Judy Judy on Dec 11, 2013
    We had some termite damage when our house was inspected for purchased that required replacing important boards under the house. After having it sprayed or whatever they do ..we would use pesticide all around the outside of the house every year maybe twice and never had a problem after that. Not sure what the law allows now this was some years ago. Good luck.
  • Anna Ibarra Anna Ibarra on Dec 11, 2013
    Well when I moved in my house, I had some minor signs of termites. I had 3 services to give me quotes, So it depends on size of your house, but mine was more. It is a pricey service but also depends on the area you live in. Sometimes, best to ask neighbors, etc. Maybe you could get a discount. My follow ups are less under $100. for annual checkups. I too wander about not renewing, but then I may not have the protection being in a warm humid area, and my house is over 30 years ole. I hate to chance it.
  • Carole Carole on Dec 11, 2013
    Wow, that is cheap! We had a termite chemical barrier put in at a property in Queensland, Australia and it cost a couple of thousand dollars (I think about 3 thousand from memory) and it turned out it only lasts for 3 years and they hit us up again for renewal cost of couple of thousand dollars! We did not pay this time. Will get regular inspections instead and monitor the situation.
  • Lavende Lavende on Dec 12, 2013
    Confirm what the price covers. You shouldn't need for them to pay just to inspect your home - most termite companies will do this for free! (Keep in mind, they make their money when they find termites). If it is some sort of home warranty, find out exactly what the coverage is - does it cover a full treatment? Does it include spot treatment, tenting and fumigation, ground termites, etc, and is their work guaranteed? Most companies offer a 2 to 3 year guarantee included in the price.
  • R.V.R. Farris R.V.R. Farris on Dec 12, 2013
    We had bought a house in 2000, and it had a termite contract on it. There was a $150 yearly charge to maintain a 7-8 year contract and included yearly inspections. The inspections covered exterior and interior. And this meant moving furniture so the fellow could get to the access panels for the bathrooms, one in our daughter's room behind her bed and the other in our walk-in closet. At the end of the contract period, the company retreated the house for a charge of about six or seven hundred dollars, and the process started again. Now, when the house was retreated, termites came up into the hall bath. The guys came back and retreated the house and checked for any damage. If there had been damage, they were responsible for all repairs. The house had previously had termites, we live in Louisiana where there numerous stories of termite infestations, and we lived next to a large wooded area with lots of downed trees at the time. We looked at it as part of the investment of purchasing the house. My suggestion would be to check out the companies in your area for a comparison of price and guarantees. Then check around to find out if there are houses that have had problems with termites in your area. Good luck.
  • Keller Pest Control Keller Pest Control on Dec 12, 2013
    There are several things to consider. First of all has your house ever been chemically treated and if so when. That's important as to what chemical they used and how much. You may not be able to find this out but you can look for drill holes along the slabs adjacent to the foundation. What does the program cover , you need to know exactly. Does it cover treatment and damages. Is it a company that's going to be around in ten years. The age of your home is important. Since the older the home the higher the risk for infestation. Georgia may have more than one type of termite. Do you know what type it covers ( Subteranean, Formosan Drywood, Dampwood) this is also critical. Find out what it covers. Did they treat for the 600 and if so what did they use and how much. Termite Warranties have become more Important with the new lending rules for mortgages. How is your home constructed. Slab , crawl , basement, is the foundation exposed , do you have wood to ground contact >decks low siding . if basement is it finished. The answer to all these questions are needed to make a good recommendation for you. Its like you asking a doctor do I need a treatment without seeing you if they said yes would you believe him.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Dec 13, 2013
    We have one of the largest national companies and we love it. We paid almost $1,400 for treatment several years ago and our annual renewal I just paid $341. The reason we went with them is their $1,000,000 damage replacement bond. We like having an annual inspection too. It does not take long for termites to do a lot more than a few hundred dollars in damage! We have had our house covered for 43 years! Some might think this is foolish use of funds, but here in the south, I have seen entire subdivisions eaten up!
    • See 1 previous
    • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Dec 13, 2013
      @ Yes, so the good thing is that we have been with this company for over 10 years so if we have damage, THEY missed the live bugs. AND just because you have a contract with a pest control company does not mean that a homeowner should not look around the home from time to time. There are signs of termites...mud tunnels running up from the ground is a major one. And they should dig around the foundation and see if they see any bugs moving around in the dirt. I saw winged bugs flying out of the ground...looked a lot like flies...so called my termite people to come out and check them. It was flying ants! But they checked it out at no charge!
  • You have many options / suggestions here. Just please make sure you do something to protect yourself. I had to do termite work at my mom's house (built in 1926), and also in the Los Angeles area, and it cost me thousands of dollars. Luckily I had the money to pay for it. Most people don't. Hope you find someone local and honest!
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